Hey guys, I need your help here. First of all, I know this isn't the correct section of the forum for this question, but you guys are the ones I know and who's opinions I trust, so I'm hoping you'll cut me a little slack. Besides, the lounge is just plain sleazy and a little bit scary if you know what I mean...

So anyway, the Audi pissed me off for the last time today, and I've decided to replace it. I've decided to consider purchasing a new car (as in, brand new) for the first time in my life. But honestly, I really don't know what to even look at so I'm hoping I can get some suggestions. Here's what I need:

*Price range anywhere from 20 - 30 K

*Must be able to seat five comfortably (I have three sons, who will be quite big when they hit their teens).

*Dependability is probably the most important qualifier. After owning the Audi, I don't ever want to have to work on my daily driver again.

*Able to handle snow in large quantities.

*Of course, sportiness is a big plus! But I still might consider an SUV if I really liked it.

I just happened to be driving by a Honda dealership when the Audi experienced a small electrical fire, and I was so pissed I figured "why not a new car"? I know we're supposed to hate hondas, but they are tops when it comes to reliability and resale value. So we walked in and talked to the salesman, took a look at an Accord, and ended up taking it for a test drive. This was the V6 version with a six speed manual. It didn't really feel like it had the 244 horses they claimed, but then I looked at the speedometer and just about had to change my shorts.

Anyway, it was nice but I didn't really fall head over heels in love with it. Know what I mean? Still, it was a nice car and I am considering it.

So, if you have any idea of what I should be considering and test driving, please help me out and make your suggestion. Or on the other hand, if you know I should be steering clear of some particular car then let me know that too.

Thanks for your help and patience. I really didn't know who else to ask (which is probably a pretty sad thing, when you think about it)...

 

Mazdaspeed 3.

/thread

Edit: or MS6, I am a mazda fanboy

 

Suby. Impreza. I hear they're reliable as heck, get good mpg, and are fun to boot.

 

+1 for the MS6. My dad got a 6 wagon a couple years ago and I think it's a pretty bad *** car. You mentioned snow capability was a plus, and the MS6 is AWD. I would love one if I had the cash and could pay for the gas.

If I as gonna get a SUV, the CX-7 would be my obvious first choice. My mom just bought a new CRV and it's pretty slick too (I love the black leather interior).

 

Thanks for the input guys! I'll start my research on those mentioned...

 

Yes, any Mazda sedan or wagon. I know quite a few people driving them around. 6speed manual V6's with nice power and they look nice. Reliability and good gas mileage to boot. Plus new they are right in your price range. Maybe a little less!

 

I have prolbably driven every single car released in the last five years and I would buy a lexus, hands down better quallity everywhere you look when compared to anything coming out of germany and so many models to choose from in your price range. Also lexus's are so reliable you would wish you bought one earlier.
If your wanting a suv I want you to test drive a RX400h, might be out of the 20-30 range but its a very nice peice of machinery, RX330/350 are just as nice without the hybrid-ness.
On the sedan side of things I would check out a awd GS300, great in snow and the leather seats are so comfy.

 

something i found out. someone in a car mag did a comparo of the mazda 6 and the accord, they said the accord was faster than the mazda, but the mazda atleast sounded fast. the accord was very quiet.

 

MS6 or Subie Imprezza would be the 2 I would look at real heavily, if it were me.
SUV's have plenty of room inside, but ya pay a lot more at the pump...... The Ford Escape/Mazda (Tribute?) in AWD form is one I might consider, but only the 4cyl 5 speed version. I don't have much faith in the newer automatic trans.

 

the only way to beat the gas prices of a SUV is going hybrid, but i hope you sell it before it hits 80/100k

 

Believe it or not, the Escape Hybrid is rated far higher city MPG than the gas versions, but the hiway MPG is far lower. The 4cyl 5 speed is rated much higher hiway than the hybrid, even though they have the same 4cyl engine.....

 

^^ because you dont stop on the highway, or atleast your not supposed to.

 

no, iirc the hybrids have to actually run the gasoline engine on the highway to keep up to speed -thus less mpg, in the city they shut off everytime you let of the accelerator basically -thus more mpg.

 

i would buy a helicopter.

 

Me and my lady were in the same situation, we decided to go with a Subaru Legacy. Hands down the best in snow! Sporty, yes, lot o room, not so much. The Tribeca, which we have received as a loaner was very nice, ugly, but very nice and roomy. Interior is pretty impresive, front end is butt ugly! After you look at everything else, take a Subaru on a nasty road and feel the difference.

 

Look at Nissan altima SE-R's, nice cars. Other options listed are good as well, but Nissan really stands behind it's products and the Altima's are pretty solid cars (except for the whole burning oil problem, but thats only with the 2.5L's)

 

Yeah, Nissan is what we planned on checking out next but the Honda salesguy said he that they were having issues with their engines lately so I wasn't sure...

Keep em coming guys, I knew I could count on your support!

 

Ya the problem is the 2.5L's in the altimas, the Altima SE-R is the performance model and they come with the VQ35. It's worth looking into, wouldn't hurt to test drive a few cars to narrow down the decision.

 

Rx-8 ....id say a slightly used IS300.....i lovethose cars...very nice, sporty and comfy ride

 

get the subaru rs station wagon its nice and twin turbo

 

mazda3 or mazda6.... if u wanna go a bit more sporty go for the mazda3speed or mazda6speed..........my mom has the mazda3(gt wagon) its a pretty nice car, pretty roomy it just takes me a while 2 get used 2 it when im driving it because the seats feel really high compared 2 my 7 but once i get used 2 it i like it, im just in the process of trying 2 get her 2 trade it in for a mazda3speed lol its not workin 2 well

 

Just spent some time over at car and driver, and of course the rate the Accord at the top of just about every category... The thing is, the 28,000 dollar price tag on the model that I drove. And considering that I wasn't all the impressed with it, I don't think I'd consider stepping down to the 4 banger model either...

The good news is, I just found out that you can get the Impreza WRX for just about 25 grand. Now that would be a lot easier to picture myself in than an anonymous Accord. Then again, the styling of the wrx is a bit over the top for me. Can you say "pull me over please"?

I didn't see the Subaru RS station wagon though at their website, I'll have to go back and look. Twin turbo, eh?

 

Evo

 

Notes from a constantly-shopping car guy:

If you've got three sons who are going to be big guys, you'll be kicking yourself in a few years if you buy an impreza-based car (WRX, STi, Forester), as they are more analogous to the Civic in size than the Accord. Really not a lot of room in that back seat, to the point where I decided not to buy one, and my one son's only a toddler. If you decide you want a Subaru, lean toward the Legacy. Sadly the turbo wagon is no longer offered with a manual, I think that ended in 2005. Like the Accord V6, though, a Legacy optioned well will be well into the upper 20s.

I have a new baby on the way this fall, and am thinking hard about replacing my trusty little pickup truck with a couple-year-old Tundra doublecab, both for towing and for the backseat. The only thing throwing me off is that I do drive quite a lot, and gas might get more spendy than I want. That said, my RX7 doesn't do that great and I haven't got rid of it yet, so... The new Tundra looks like a beast, too, since you were looking at new stuff. I wouldn't bring it up, but it'll give you something to tow your RX7 with, should you decide you want/need to.

The altima or maxima with the 3.5L engine would be a good one to look at. That's the VQ35, and Nissan has been working on that thing for about 10 or more years now- it's a pretty safe bet.

The new Camry V6 has something crazy like 275hp, too. Supposed to be a really nice ride.

MazdaSpeed 6- eh, I just never have got around that weird looking hood. I like the looks of the MS3 better, but again, small car, may or may not be workable for you.

All turbo Subarus are single turbo, unless something new happened and I didn't get the memo, but I don't think there are any twin turbo models.

Just my $.0000000000000000000000000000002.

 

Dodge Caliber SRT-4 300hp and the utility of an suv.
Also available with AWD but with less hp.